Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

32 HISTORICAL NOTICES.
been granted to Macdonald of Isla, a relative of
the late Lord, and to the chief of Maclean ; a
subsequent act of the council, however, declared
these grants null and void ; and the Earl of
Argyle was one of the foremost in encouraging
the council to this act, doubtless in anticipation
that the result might lead to the lands being
ultimately conferred on himself.
Maclean and Macdonald, conceiving this an act
of absolute injustice and treachery, instantly took
to arms, and making a descent upon the lands of
Argyle, acted with such severity against the Camp-
bells that the government deemed it necessary
effectually to interfere ; and a herald was sent
to the isles to command Maclean and Macdonald
to peaceable behaviour, as well as to demand
an explanation of the cause of the insurrection.
The herald, however, returned unsuccessful, and
Argyle then offered his services to suppress the
bold chiefs by force of arms ; but in the mean-
time the real cause of grievance being made
known to the government, the sincerity of Ar-
gyle's professions of disinterested patriotism
began to be suspected, and the council deemed
it adviseable, rather than to go to extremities,
to offer the pugnacious chiefs an opportunity to
represent their grievances personally. The chief
of Maclean availed himself of the conciliating
tone of the government, and immediately sent
in his own submission, and that of his followers,